We are spending a week visiting friends in Oakland. We will go to Yosemite for 2 nights. Three years ago (before they moved there) we spent about 10 days exploring SF, Napa and Monterrey.

Now we will be staying in Oakland and our friends will have some ideas but wondered if anyone has particular recommendations of anything special to do, good restaurants, etc. across the bay. We will take the BART into SF probably a couple of times but will spend more time in Oakland.

LynAK,

If you are a fan of live jazz, Yoshi's in Jack London Square should not be missed.

Check out the Berkeley Art Museum.

Snoop around in the book stores and music shops along Telegraph Avenue. Amoeba Records and Cody's Books are two favorites of mine.

-Bill

Check out the Lawrence Hall of Science and Tildon Park. You'll find fabulous views from up on the hill. Also, the Oakland Museum of History is pretty good. My parents like to pick up dim sum in Oakland's Chinatown and have a picnic at Lake Merritt.

Treat your hosts to lunch (upstairs at the cafe and less expensive than dinner) or dinner at Chez Panisse!

Another vote for Chez Panisse !
R5

Oakland contains what has been one of the most beautiful urban drives in the USA: Skyline Drive /Boulevard. It 's a winding drive, bordering the Oakland/Berkely Hills. From it, you have absolutely stunning views of the entire Bay. One advantage of a view from Oakland is that you are looking at San Francisco's famous landmarks. This drive starts in the Oakland Hills above the Oakland Zoo, and continues north (sort of) through Oakland, and into the hills by Grizzly Peak. You will also pass an area of brand new homes, which is what used to be a wooded area of old homes before the devastating and widespread Oakland Hills fire of 1991.

First things came to mind: in Oakland don't miss the Oakland museum.

In Berkeley, of course the university, you can easily spend a day there!

I was not overwhelmed by Chez Panisse, both upstairs and downstairs, although the upstairs has a wonderful atmosphere. I find it pricey for what it is. I would recommend A Cote (accent over the last "e"). It's a bistro, small plate establishment on College Ave. in Oakland.

I would suggest dinner at Rivoli's Restaurant on Solano Avenue in Berkeley - you will need reservations. It is a wonderful little restaurant - great food and service.

There's a farmer's market in Berkeley on Tuesday and Saturday and shopping on Fourth Street in Berkeley or Rockridge in Oakland.

Take the ferry across the bay from Oakland to San Francisco. That was a lot of fun.

Utahtea